The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-27


She obstinately refused the name of her
| lover
Not that your silence matters" said Mrs
Saunders; EVERY one knows that it is DR..
Harrington that you have been going on
with. Both you and he will have to see the
| Governor tomorrow about this matter
| Then she dismissed the nurse.
Phoebe went out with her head meekly
bent, as if she was thinking of the awfulness
of her impending doom; but when she had
closed the door, she tossed it up with a saucy
smile, and executed a most ''un-nurse-like''
| pirouette. Then she produced from the
pocket of her apron pencil and notebook,
| and there, within three yards of the con-
demning matron-such was her unparalleled
audacity l-scribbled a note to DR.. Harring-
ton. This she intrusted to the senior proba.
TONER in his ward, who gave it to him next
morning almost under Sister Evelyn's eyes.
That day the two culprits were arraigned
before the governor, Mrs. Saunders accom-
| panying Phoebe as accuser. Walter Harring-
ton, who exchanged glance of amused con-
fidence with the Sister as she came in, was
the first to be examined.
rule, and discoursing for minute or two on
the necessity for it, asked: "Dr. Harring-
ton, have you entered into matrimonial
engagement"
Really" said Harrington, 81 can hardly
say. 1 think have; but-may ask you the
day of the month";"
"What do you mean?" asked the govern
or. "Are you mao? ?"
81 hope not. / assure you that the infor-
nation Task for is essential to my answering
your question"
ut is the Goth of May"
"Then / am engaged"
"To Miss Chester?" The governor al
luded to Sister Phoebe; but he was very old
fashioned, and could not acquire the habit
of calling the nurses Sister This or That.
He spoke of them as he would of any other
young ladies.
$40 Miss Chester" replied DR.. Harting-
ton.
"May ask when this engagement be-
GAM"
Certainly. 1t began to-day"
To-day" repeated the governor in some
surprise. Perhaps. Mrs. Saunders, we have
been uDduly prompt. Doubtless Dr. Har-
rington and Miss Chester would have an
nounced their engagement in proper form.
and have volunteered their designations"
81 had no intention of resigning," re-
marked the doctor.
but the law"
'The law does not affect me-"
The governor was about to rebuke severe
| ly this indifference to rules and regulations,
| when Mrs. Saunders interposed.
81 don't want to cast any doubt on DR..
| Harrington's truthfulness," she observed
| acidly; "but Sister Pooebe confessed to her
engagement yesterday, which does not ex-
actly corroborate his statement"
st certainly does not"
81 think" said the matron, ''that DR.. Har-
rington is concealing the truth, in order to
hide his disobedience with regard to the new
law"
Dear, dear; that is very shockingv' said
the governor, getting bewildered at the new
accusation; while DR.. Harrington bowed
and expressed his obligation to Mrs. Saun-
ders for the high esteem in which she held
him.
The matron turned her back on him and
said to the governor; "You had better
question Sister Phoebe. You will at least
get the truth from her. Girls are too proud
of being engaged to deny it."
The governor turned to Phoebe, prepared
to act the part of stern upholder of author
ity; but her face looked so meekly bewtch-
ing that his heart softened within him; and
he remembered that he had daughters of his
own, who liked to have lovers as much as
any other girls
well, well, Miss Chester, this is very
sad," he began vaguely. "Of course it is
quite natural and right, and no one could ex-
pect you to remain unmarried all your life
but law is law and must be obeyed. Other
wise, would suggest-and even as it is per-
haps"-
He was actually about to propose making
an exception in Phebe's favor, when he felt
Mrs Saunders's cold, hard eye freezing him
to the bone. He coughed, dropped his pre-
amble and proceeded to catechize, though in
an apologetic and paternal tone which the
matron disapproved of "Now, do you
mind telling me, my dear, how long you
have been engaged?"
Phoebe blushed little and looked down,
bur answered quite clearly: ga long time
nearly two years"
But DR.. Harrington says his engagement
began only to-day"
yes; that is quite true"
'But. my dear girl, it takes two people to
make an engagement as well as a quarrel
If you have been engaged to DR.. Harrington
for two years, he must have been engaged to
you for the same time"
"Oh, see!" Phoebe smiled as if new
light began to dawn upon her. "But am
not engaged to DR.. Harrington.
"Why, he said you WERE"
Excuse me- did not" said Harrington.
81 am engaged to Miss Chester-not to Miss
Phoebe Chester, whom / should have called
Sister Phoebe, as everyone in the hospital
does; but to her cousin, Miss Elsie Chester.
Mr.. Thorpe, Elsie'S uncle and next of kin,
would not consent to her promising to marry
| man who had his fortune to make; as she
was a ward in Chancery there could be nc
tie between us till she came of age and was
free to act for herself. This is her twenty.
first birthday, and may now look upon my
self as her future husband; for, though there
has been no communication between us fol
year, Sister Phoebe who has been very
kind in telling me all her cousin says and
does-said to me two days ago that Elsie had
declared her intention of accepting me if
offered myself after she reached her MAORI
ty. She would receive my proposal this
morning expect her reply, which l think
may assume will be favorable, by the af-
ternoon post"
Mrs Saunders looked indignant at this ex-
PLANTATION. If it were not discourteous one
might say that she shifted at it, as if dubious
of its accuracy; but Harrington caught sight
of CLEAN of sympathetic humor in the gov
ernor's eye, as he turned to Sister Phoebe
with the query: swell, Miss Phoebe, and
what is the truth-the real truth-about your
love AFFAIR.""
sits very hopeless one" she said, with
a little sigh. 81 am engaged to my cousin
Jack, Mr.. Thorpe's son. Uncle Thorpe does
not approve of the match, because am poor
and have to work for my living. Jack has
gone out to Rio Janeiro, because he is likely
to get on better there; and as soon as his In